Discuss measles immunisation with patients, society urges

The Society’s advice is to highlight the evidence-based risk, explain this to families in the context of NHS guidelines and to signpost parents and carers of unvaccinated children to their GP or health visitor. BSPD believes that as part of ‘Making Every Contact Count’ (MECC) and its commitment to provide holistic care for our patients, that this is the ideal opportunity for dentists to play their role.

Dentists will be asking about patients’ vaccination status anyway - as part of the routine medical history. BSPD believes that this is the moment to ask specifically about MMR immunisation and recommends Dental Check by 1 (DCby1), as an ideal time to remind parents and carers to ensure their children’s immunisation records are up to date (DCby1 is BSPD’s campaign to get children into a dentist’s chair before their first birthday).